As we navigate a year that has started out like none other, we want to open this edition with a huge thank you. Thank you for your dedication to your students, your dedication to your colleagues, and to the broader goal of quality science education for all.

In this time filled with uncertainty, we want you to know that we are certain about one thing - that every educator reading this newsletter is worthy of recognition and appreciation. We see you! We see you working harder than ever before. We see you doing things you could never have imagined being included in an educator’s “other duties as assigned”. We know that some days it feels unbearable without an end in sight. But we also know that we see you making a difference in the lives of kids. We see you making a difference in the lives of your colleagues. If you ever need to hear a voice of reassurance, please reach out to us. We are here and we see you.

If you find yourself needing a moment of levity throughout the year, look on Twitter for our #sparksciencejoy campaign launching soon. With this creativity campaign we hope the simplicity of googly eyes can spread joy and make people smile and laugh. Did you know that it is actually a scientific fact that when we smile, our brain releases neuropeptides that help us fight off stress? It’s true, and it has been found that smiling can create a ripple effect that enables us to spread our positivity to those around us. So don’t keep the #sparksciencejoy hashtag to yourself, share it with others you know that may need to crack a smile. Who knows, your smiles may even turn to laughter and according to the Mayo Clinic, laughter is even better for our mental well being than smiling. Please join in the fun and post your own googly eye pictures using the #sparksciencejoy hashtag. (Don’t have your own googly eyes, don’t fret — hand drawn eyes still have smile-inducing potential.)

Please note, our focus on the intersectional equity projects from STEM Teaching Tools Practice Brief 71 has been moved to the NGSS in Action section of the newsletter in this edition. 

Please share this link with others so they can receive future Science News and Updates.

Chelsea Cochrane, Crystal Howe, and John Spiegel

A new consensus study from the National Academies of Science Engineering and Medicine (NASEM) provides guidance on effective approaches to science and engineering instruction in prekindergarten through 5th grade that support the success of all students regardless of race, socioeconomic status, home language, learning ability and needs, or the community in which they live. The report includes considerations for policies and practices that enhance science and engineering experiences for all students. View the Science and Engineering in Preschool Through Elementary Grades: The Brilliance of Children and the Strengths of Educators report and webinar recording.

The updated California Science Test (CAST) item specifications are now posted on the CDE CAST Item Specifications webpage. A total of 175 item specifications are organized by grade and science domain — 45 for 5th grade, 59 for 8th grade, and 71 for high school. These resources help educators gain a better understanding of the three-dimensional nature of the CAST. Along with the 2016 Science Framework, they can be used to develop items for classroom assessments. A useful flyer, Introducing the CAST Item Specification, is located on the CDE CAST webpage.

Formal and informal educators are invited to hike together on Feb. 5 from 9 to 11 a.m. while honing observation techniques that can be used anywhere, whether you are in a nature reserve, schoolyard, or local park. Register for the Hike-Explore-Learn event. 

SDCOE has been added to the growing statewide hub for community partners. Use this hub to find local environmental education programs for in school and field trips. San Diego county programs continue to be added to the hub. This site is a great resource to connect to new partners or to share your program with more schools. Check out the hub here.

The Elementary Science Network is a professional learning opportunity for all elementary educators looking for support and networking opportunities related to science teaching and learning. It will replace and expand on the former SDCOE Elementary Science Academy Follow-up Network (ESA-FUN). This new network will focus on student curiosity and using science as a lever for literacy and language development. Participants will continue to deepen their understanding of three-dimensional learning and phenomena-based instruction with an emphasis on student writing and productive talk. The network will meet on a monthly basis. Register to attend the Elementary Science Network today.

The Science Leaders Network is offered monthly as an ongoing opportunity for science education leaders across San Diego to come together to share best practices and highlight current efforts to support science learning for all students. The target audience is district or site administrators, teachers on special assignment (TOSAs), and lead teachers. Register for the Science Leaders Network today.

The CA NGSS Statewide Implementation Professional Learning Series: Building Student Sensemaking Through Disciplinary Literacy is now open for registration. Building student sensemaking through disciplinary literacy in science is a critical topic for the continued growth and implementation of the CA NGSS. Four strands have been developed to address literacy including using text, argumentation, discourse, and notebooking. Each strand has both an elementary and secondary section. Choose from one of the four professional learning strands. Register for the collaborative as a team of two or more, at the same time, to receive a $50 discount per attendee.

Southern California Association of Science Specialists (SCAS²)

Join SCAS² for their Spring Conference on March 11 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. The conference will highlight their year-long focus of using science as a lever for equity and engagement and feature Dr. Jessica Thompson from the University of Washington, College of Education as the opening keynote speaker. Dr. Thompson has expertise in partnering with K-12 school systems to improve science instruction and center critical and cultural approaches to ambitious science teaching and learning so that every student can thrive. Advanced registration is required.

This section of Science News and Updates highlights districts and schools across San Diego County focused on bringing high-quality science learning experiences to all students.

In this segment of NGSS in Action, we will be using this space to continue our focus on the intersectional equity projects from STEM Teaching Tools Practice Brief 71.

STEM Teaching Tools uses the term “equity projects” to signal key initiatives where intentional action is needed. Promoting equity and justice in science education requires collective action by everyone. We hope you will join us in Disrupting Ableism, one of the seven intersectional equity projects. STEM Teaching Tools defines this key intersectional equity project as the need to, “leverage students’ intellectual strengths and contributions regardless of their school-recognized disability status.” It goes on to encourage educators to, “work towards ability justice by disrupting narrow views of ability and prejudices against those perceived to have disabilities [and] intentionally use strategies to meaningfully include students receiving disability services.”

One way to disrupt ableism in schools is to leverage the strengths of learners. To understand more about inclusion we lean into STEM Teaching Tool Practice Brief 59 - Creating science learning experiences that support learners receiving special education services. This practice brief reminds us that the National Framework for K-12 Science Education presents a vision of equitable science education for all learners. 

Using the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) guidelines as support, educators can create learning environments that are accessible to all learners. UDL, “is a framework to improve and optimize teaching and learning for all people based on scientific insights into how humans learn.” The goal of UDL is to develop expert learners who are Purposeful and Motivated (Affective Network), Resourceful and Knowledgeable (Recognition Network), and Strategic and Goal-Directed (Strategic Network). The guidelines provide concrete suggestions educators can use to design learning environments and use instructional strategies in ways that do not create barriers, but rather ensure that all learners can access and participate in meaningful, challenging learning opportunities.

Think about the work you can do in your school and district to disrupt ableism. It is up to each of us to ask the hard questions and do the work. If you’re not sure where to begin, here are some questions you can start with; Am I/Are we supporting diverse ways of knowing and disrupting ableism within our system? Are we creating spaces for special education teachers and science teachers to leverage each other’s expertise and collaboratively design equitable science learning environments? Are students with disabilities thriving in science classes?

We know other amazing work is happening throughout our county. We’d love to showcase you and your students. To have your school or district featured in the next edition of Science News and Updates, please share your NGSS story by completing this Google form. 

Teachers, the Living Coast Discovery Center offers virtual field trips to allow your students to experience the wildlife and science programs normally offered at the Living Coast. All virtual field trip programs are based on NGSS and State Standards. Choose from a live animal encounter, pre-recorded field trip, or live Zoom field trip (or all three). 

The Living Coast Discovery Center offers sponsorships for teachers at Title I schools for its virtual field trip programs. Sponsored teachers will receive a recorded lesson, Zoom lesson, animal encounter, and additional resources (a $300 value) at no cost for Title I schools.

The San Diego River Distance Learning Station offers several printable worksheets (writing, drawing, and nearby nature activities), video lessons, and storytelling. These activities are most appropriate for students K-8 and focus mainly on ecology, environmental education, and nature connection.  

Visit the I Love A Clean San Diego events calendar to learn more about these upcoming webinars:

The I Love A Clean San Diego education team has transformed in-person environmental education presentations into live online classroom learning opportunities. Virtual presentations can be scheduled via Zoom, Google Meet, or Microsoft Teams as needed. They are free to public and private K-12 classrooms within I Love A Clean San Diego’s service areas. Topics included recycling and household hazardous waste, ecosystems and marine pollution, food waste, watershed pollution, ocean acidification, living a zero waste lifestyle and more. The programs are NGSS-aligned and vary in length from 45 to 60 minutes. Teachers and students can expect interactive elements including polls, Menti questions, multiple short discussions and group activities. Also, many programs come with optional follow-up materials to help extend students’ learning opportunities outside of the live presentation. To learn more or schedule a virtual presentation, email email education@cleansd.org or fill out a presentation request form.

Strategic Energy Innovations (SEI): Building Leaders for a Resilient World

Green Careers webinars is a free, online library where students can view presentations from sustainability professionals who share about their green career pathway. It's an awesome virtual resource for students to use independently with SEI career exploration activities, or browse through if they're juniors/seniors thinking about next steps after high school. Teachers and students can easily request instant access to this free resource.

Students are invited to boost their resumes and build their knowledge of energy conservation and efficiency with SEI's Energy Specialist Certificate. Through a series of four challenges, students develop a deeper understanding of their relationship with energy, make changes to live more sustainably, and become leaders as they spread awareness of resource conservation. Students can earn their certificate by requesting free access to the learning materials.

SEI has distance learning resources to help teachers continue providing learning opportunities for students. Bring hands-on projects to your students using the units which include climate change, energy auditing, renewable energy, and air quality. The units are teacher-facing resources that will fit into many subjects' scope and sequence and are designed for engaging students in synchronous, virtual instruction. SEI also offers a student-facing distance learning curriculum that is designed to get your students thinking about sustainability across a range of topics from air quality to green transportation. All student-facing curriculum is ready to share with your learners and includes background content and engaging activities. The student-facing curriculum can be implemented with or without internet access. 

ArtsBusXpress is a nonprofit organization that connects students with arts and science venues for field trip opportunities, and is preparing for in-person and virtual field trips to over 100 museums, theaters, discovery centers, and more to supplement teachers' STEAM lessons. K-12 teachers can visit the Places to Go page on the organization's website to see a list of field trip destinations, including options for virtual experiences. For more information, visit the ArtsBusXpress website.

Parks Online Resources for Teachers and Students (PORTS) provides free, interactive virtual field trips for K-12 students to stay connected to our state's natural, cultural, and historical resources. Designed for in-person and virtual classrooms, the programs are customizable for all grade levels and include additional teacher resources built around the program. The fall calendar includes topics such as California's indigenous cultures, towering trees, marine protected areas, immigration stories, gold rush history, and desert ecology. Visit the PORTS website to browse programs by location or topic and for booking details.

Immerse K-8 students in real-life applications of STEM — and teach key science concepts at the same time — with lessons about a sport that many students enjoy. Check out these fun and engaging NASCAR-themed lessons and resources, free of charge to educators nationwide!

The STEM Teaching Tools site can help you teach science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Each tool is focused on a specific issue and leverages the best knowledge from research and practice. Newly released practice briefs include, Practice Brief 82 Supporting observations, wonderings, systems thinking and “Should We” deliberations through Learning in Places, Practice Brief 83 Steps to Designing Justice-Focused Assessments in Science, and Practice Brief 84 Let’s Talk Climate! Bridging Climate Justice Learning and Action Across School, Home, and Community.

SACNAS is an inclusive organization dedicated to fostering the success of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans, from college students to professionals, in attaining advanced degrees, careers, and positions of leadership in STEM. 

The Indigenous STEAM website is full of science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics resources for families, teachers, and communities that foreground Indigenous knowledge systems — roles, relations, responsibilities, and gifts between and within human and other-than-human communities — and intergenerational arrangements in teaching and learning. 

From the structure of a molecule to the design of a vehicle, your students can create a model using Google Sheets and Google Drawings with this new applied digital skills lesson, Develop a Model in Google Drawings, from Google for Education. Explore the growing Science collection and see how you can use Google tools to support and plan for instruction.

To have your event or resource considered for a future edition of SDCOE’s Science News and Updates provide your information via this Google form.